Electric-railway system.



A. YUROW.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY SYSTEM. v

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5, 1914.

1,140,093. Patented May'18, 1915.

4 SHEETSSHEEI 1.

muzwfoz WWW A. YUROW.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5, 1914.

Patented May 18, 1915.

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A. YUROW.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED MAY 5, 1914.

1,140,093. Patented May18,1915.

4 SHEETS$HEET 3- flllllllll I "hi. NORRIS PETERS C0,, PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON, D. C.

A. YUROW.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY SYSTEM.

1,140,093.. APPLICATION FILED MAY 5, l?l4. Patent-ed May 18 4 EEEEEEEEEEEE 4.

UNITED STATES I PATENT onnron.

, ANDREW YIJ'ROW, OF NEW YORK, N. Y;

' ELECTRIC-RAILWAY sYsrmvr.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ANDREW YUROW, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Electric-Railway Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification. I

This invention relates to electric railways of the underground conduit type wherein conducting rails are arranged in a conduit under the track and the'car carries a plow or shoe which extends down into the conduit to contact with the conducting rails for collecting current therefrom to drive the motor on the car.

In electric railways of this type, as here.- tofore generally used, breaks or openings in the continuity of the conducting rails have been necessary at crossings and switches where the plow carried by the car must pass a transverse or branch line of conducting rails. These breaks or open spaces in the conducting rails cause the lights on the car to flash, that is, go out momentarily, which is'annoying to the passengers, and at switches often stall the car, making it necessary to use some outside force to move said car to one end of said break or opening in the conducting rails, before the car can proceed under its own power. I 7

It is the object of the present invention to provide improved and simplified means.

for maintaining the continuity of the current from the conducting rails to the motor on the car when passing over crossings and switches. Another and subsidiary object is to provide safety means at the switch for preventing short circuit in' case a car passes from a branch line to the main line without having first thrown the switch and contact points in the proper direction.

Further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

The invention will be first hereinafter described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which constitute a part of this specification, and then more specifically defined in the claims at the end of the description. 7

In the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters are used to designate corresponding 1 parts throughout Specification of Letters Patent. Patented May, 1915:;

Application filed May 5, 19-14. Serial No. 836,495. i

the several views :Figure 1 is a plan view' of a crossing and switch constructed in accordance with myinvention, as thesame appearon the surface; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same'as they appear below thesur face, that is'to say, in the conduit. Fig. 3"

is an enlarged plan view of the switch as it appears on the surface,=parts below the surface being indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the same including the parts located in the conduit. Fig. 5 is an under plan view of the slots in the surface at the'crossing, showing the current carrying spring pressed pins which are engaged by the bridging plates on the plow. F ig; 6 is a broken vertical cross section through one of the slots adjacent the crossing, showing the plow in end elevation, and the current carrying spring pressed pins, in contact with the bridging plates on said plow. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the plow,-and Fig. 8 is an under plan view of said plow.

In the drawings A designates the surface slot of a main line track, B the surface slot of a cross line track, and G and D the surface slots of branch line tracks. It is deemed unnecessary to show the tracks or-railsfor the wheels of the cars inasmuch as they may be of any known construction and do not constituteany part of the present invention.

In the conduit below the surface slot'A of" the main line there are arranged conducting rails E and F. which run parallel to each up near to one another without forming an electrical contact. In all large electric railway. systems it is necessary to makethe conducting rails in sections this way, but it should be clearly understood that this break I does not alter the fact that the present system provides for continuous current over crossings and switches. In fact,sa1d

break I may be made so short that the lights will barely flicker as the car passes it, and there will be no danger of the car becoming stalled thereon.

In the conduit below the surface slot of the cross line B conducting rails K and L are arranged in a similar manner relative to one another as the rails E and F of the main line, said rails K and L having their ends flared apart at the crossing, as at and Z.

In order to prevent the circuit from being broken when the plow attached to a car passes over the crossing, I provide two sets of contact pins M, M, M and M and N, N, N and N illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6. These pins are arranged in vertical position below the overhanging surface portion or cover 0 of the conduit adjacent the meeting point of the crossing slots A and B. Pins M and M are arranged in line with the sections of the rail E on opposite sides of the slot B, while pins M and M are similarly arranged on opposite sides of the slot 13 in alinement with the sections of the rail F. Pins N and N are arranged in line with the sections of the rail K on opposite sides of the slot A, and pins N and N are arranged on opposite sides of said slot A in alinement with the rail L. Two of the contact pins are preferably mounted in each of four boxes or casings P, P, P and P pins M and N being mounted in the box P, pins M and N in box P, pins 1 2 and N in box P and pins M and N in box P Each of thepins is yieldingly held in its projected position by a spring Q or its equivalent, see Fig. 6. The pins M and M are electrically connected to the respective sections of the rail E by wires or other suitable conductors R, and the pins M and M to the respective sections of the rail F by wires or conductors R. The pins N and N are electrically connected by wires or conductors R to the respective sections of the rail K, and the pins N and N by wires or conductors R to the respective sections of the rail L, see Fig. 2. It will be noted that the pins in each box are arranged obliquely with respect to the slots A and B, so that while one pin of each pair is in line with a rail of each line, it is out of line with either of the rails of the other line.

' The plow S, Figs. 6, 7 and 8, carries in addition to its lateral contact plates .9 and s, horizontally disposed contact plates 8 and 8 arranged in parallel relation on top of the head 10 of the plow at opposite sides of its standard 11, and in line with the set of pins connected to the conducting rails of the line in which said plow is running. The pinsnormally extend down slightly below the level of the top surface of plates 8 and s in order to insure a proper contact with the pins, and the ends of said plates are curved downwardly, as at 12, to guide said pins up onto the plates. The head 10 of the plow may be made of insulating material, as shown, or the plates 8 and 8 may be insulated from each other in any other suitable way to prevent short circuits.

It will be understood, of course, that when a car is running between crossings, the lat eral plates .9 and s" of the plow contact with the rails in the conduit along the line on which the car is running, the current from said rails being collected by said plates and conducted therefrom to the motors (not shown) on the car by cables 13, Figs. 7 and 8. For instance, if the plow S is in the position indicated in Fig. 2, the current will be collected by its lateral plates from the rails E and F. Now, when the plow reaches a crossing, the horizontal plates thereon will come in contact with the adjacent pins of the set in alinement with the rails E and F, namely pins M and M before the lateral plates of the plow leave said rails. As the plow moves on, its horizontal plates will come into contact with the other two pins, M and M of the set, before they leave the pins M and M and in the further progress of the plow, said horizontal plates will not leave said pins M and M until the lateral plates of the plow come into contact with the rails E and F at the other side of the crossing. It will thus be seen that the circuit to the motors on the car will be continuous and not interrupted during the passage of the plow over the crossing, because of the cooperation of the horizontal plates on the plow with the contact pins, as described, it being noted that each of said horizontal plates is electrically connected to the corresponding lateral plate on the same side, as by wires 14, Figs. 6 and 7 Attention is directed to the simplicity of the construction of the lateral plates 8 and s and their method of attachment to the plow. The lower portion 15 of the plow below the head 10 may be straight and smooth on both sides and is preferably made of insulating material. Near the ends of each side of said lower portion 15 of the plow pairs of bored lugs 16 are arranged in vertical alinement. The lateral plates .9 and s are preferably made of resilient steel of uniform thickness, and are bowed as illustrated best in Fig. 8. The ends of each of said plates are somewhat reduced and reversely curved to fit loosely between the pairs of lugs 16. Cotterpins 17 passed through the bores of the lugs 16 serve to. hold the lateral plates to the plow and at the same time allow said plates to have the necessary limited sliding movement to permit the plates to be pressed between the rails. Moreover, the construction and means of attaching the lateral plates as shown and described, makes it a very easy matter to remove said plates and substitute others when necessary or desirable.

As illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the

lit.

in railways ofthis kind, the surface slots of said branch lines being designated C and D, as hereinbefore stated. Of course, the rails E and F branch also, spreading apart, as at E and F Just below the surface, a switch point T is pivoted, at t for guiding the standard of the plow intoone branch slot or the other. Down in the conduit between the spreading portions of the rails, a contact point U is placed, the same being pivoted at u and designed to guide the plow into either branch line of rails- Just in rear of this contact. point, said branch line rails V plow reaches a position between the rails E and F or F and E the circuit will be closed to the motors on the car the same as when the plow is running between the rails E and F of the main line. It is between the end of the rails E and F and therails E and F that is, in the space occupied by the contact point U, that the circuit is so com? monly broken, often causing the car to become stalled, as well as putting out the lights on the car. To avoid this breaking or interrupting of the circuit, I make the contact point of current conducting material and provide it with'a contact finger u adapted to contact with either one of two contact plates 6 and f electrically connected to the respective rails E and F When the switch is set to turn the plow into the lower branch slot D, the contact point U is arranged as shown in Fig. 2, with its tapered end in contact with the end of the rail F and its contact finger in contact with the contact plate 7, so that said contact point is included in the circuit of the rails F and F After the same manner, the contact point, when moved to bring its tapered end into contact with the end of the rail E, may be included in the circuit of the rails E and E the contact finger Q6 then-engaging the contact plate 6 In either case, the plow will be conducted from the main line conducting rails to the branch conducting rails without interrupting the circuit in the least or for the briefest' tuate the switch point T and the contact point U. I f

It is obvious that if the plow has passedinto one of the branch slots and it is desired to move the car back on to the main line after the switch has been thrown so as to open the other branchfline, a short circuit would occur as soon as one of the lateral plates of said shoe came in contact with the contact point before leaving the rails E or F To avoid this, I providea pair of strips W pivotally connected at one end to the upper end of thepin 11. These strips are spread apart from this point, one extending along at the side of each of the branch slots C and D, the other extremities of the strips being slotted longitudinally, as at w, and. guided'by pins orbolts w, see Fig. 3. It will be noticed that the pin 4) is connected to the switch point some distance from the pivot of the latter, so that the movement of said switch point will cause the ends of-the strips W which are attached to said pin to move laterally which in turn will effect a certain longitudinal movement of the strips. Each strip has a cam portion to on the edge thereof which is presented to the branch slot. hen the switch point is moved to one side, as in Fig. 3, the cam portion of the strip on that side will be projected into the branch slot on the same side, while the other strip will be moved to withdraw its cam portion from the other branch slot. These cam portions of the strips are spaced from the switch point a distance sufficient to insure the one which protrudes into its branch slot being engaged by the standard of the plow before the lateral plates on said plow come in contact with the contact point U.- Consequently, should a car be moved from the branch line, into the slot of which the cam portion of'one of the stri'ps'protrudes by reason of the switch being set to open'the other branch line,'the standard of the plow, when it engages said cam portion, will operate to automatically reverse the switch point and contact point before the lateral plates on the plow reach said contact point. The movement of the contact point in uni.- son with the switch point is due to the connection of them, together by the pinoas already described;

-Having thus described my invention, what ters Patent of the United States is =1. The combination,.with spaced conducting rail sections, of vertically yielding con tact devices arranged between said rail sections and electrically connected thereto, a plow having lateral means for engagement with the rail sections, and horizontal plates for engagement withsaid contact devices,

the horizontalplates'being electrically con-.1 l

nected to the respective lateral means, for, the purpose specified.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letr 2. The combination, with spaced conducting rail sections, of vertically arranged contact devices overhanging said rail sections and located between the same, means for electrical connection between said rail sec tions and contact devices, a plow having lateral means forengaging the rail sections, and horizontal plates on the top of the plow electrically connected respectively to the lateral means vfor bridging the gap between the rail sections without interrupting the circuit.

3. The combination, with spaced conducting rail sections, of spring pressed conducting devices arranged vertically above and in line with the respective rail sections and between the same, means for electrical connection between said rail sections and contact devices, a plow having lateral means for engaging the rail sections, and horizontal plates on the plow electrically connected to the respective lateral means thereon for bridging the gap between the rail sections without interrupting the circuit, the ends of said plates being curved to guide the conductingdevices onto the same.

4. The combination, with spaced main line conducting rail sections, of similar cross line rail sections, auxiliary contact devices arranged at the crossing, certain of said devices being arranged in line with and electrically connected to the respective rail sections of the main line, and others of said devices being arranged in line with and electrically connected to the respective rail sections of the cross line, each of said sets of contact devices being out of line with the other rail sections, and aplow having lateral means for engaging the rail sections of either line and plates for engaging the contact devices of the line engaged by said lateral means, whereby the gap between the rail sections may be bridged and crossed without interrupting the circuit.

5. The combination, with spaced main line conducting rails and spaced cross line rail sections, of contact devices arranged in pairs at each of the four corners of the crossing, one contact device of each pair be ing disposed in line with the corresponding rail of the main line and the other in line with a rail of the cross line, each of said contact devices being electrically connected to one of the rail sections in line therewith, and a plow having means for collecting cur rent from said rails and means for engaging said contact devices for the purpose specified, said latter means being electrically connected to said collecting means.

6. The combination, with main line and cross line conducting rails spaced apart at the crossing, of contact devices arranged in pairs at the four corners of the crossing, one contact device of each pair being arranged mates in line with a rail of oneline "and out of line with the rails of the other line, each contact device being electrically connected to the rail in line therewith, and a plow having means for collecting current from said rails and means for collecting current from said contact devices during the passage of the plow over the space at the crossing.

7. The combination, with main line and cross line conducting rails spaced apart at the crossing, of yielding vertically disposed contact devices arranged in pairs at the four corners of the crossing, one contact device of each pair being arranged in line with a rail of one line and out of alinement with the rails of the other line, each contact device being electrically connected to the rail in alinement therewith, and a plow having means for collecting current from said rails, and horizontal plates having curved guiding ends for engaging certain of said contact devices and collecting current therefrom during the passage of the plow over the space at the crossing.

8. The combination, with main line and cross line conducting rails spaced apart at the crossing, of boxes arranged at the four corners of the crossing, vertically disposed contact pins projecting from said boxes, resilient means for yieldingly holding said pins in projected position, one of said contact devices being arranged in alinement with the rails of one line and out of alinement with the rails of the other line, each contact pin being electrically connected to the rails in alinement therewith, and a plow having means for collecting current from said rails, and horizontal plates to engage said pins at the crossing for the purpose specified.

9. The combination, with main line and cross line conducting rails spaced apart at the crossing, of boxes arranged at the four corners of the crossing, two vertically disposed contact pins mounted in each box and arranged obliquely with respect to the lines of the rails with one pin in alinement with one of the rails of one line and out of alinement with the rails of the other line, each pin being electrically connected to the rail in alinement therewith, and a plow having means for collecting current from the rails, and means for collecting current from the pins during the passage of the plow over the space at the crossing.

In testimony whereof I havesigned my name to this specification in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

ANDREW YUROW.

Witnesses:

VVM. M. CHRISTIE, ANTONIE Unmz.

C'opies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents, Washington, D. G. 

